SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5,441	$ 7,579
Restricted cash	74	271
Accounts receivable, net	51,582	26,463
Deferred costs on contracts	14,966	3,746	$ 1,780
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,324	2,843
Total current assets	77,387	40,902
Property and equipment, net	37,289	35,334
Multiclient seismic data library, net	2,719	4,733	5,829
Operating lease right-of-use assets	6,421	0
Goodwill	1,766	1,687	1,832
Intangible assets, net	3,751	4,066
Tax credits receivable, net	12,104	13,198	19,089
Deferred income taxes	0	2,160
Other assets	778	267
Total assets	142,215	102,347
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	30,966	10,103
Accrued liabilities	6,034	10,498
Income and other taxes payable	5,902	3,331
Operating lease liabilities	2,576	0
Current portion of long-term debt	112,401	7,837
Deferred revenue	8,724	4,357	1,477
Total current liabilities	166,603	36,126
Long-term debt	7,145	83,205
Other long-term liabilities	4,280	380
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	240,068	232,661
Accumulated deficit	(274,535)	(249,349)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,912)	(3,035)
Treasury stock, at cost	(2,232)	(1,866)
SAExploration stockholders’ deficit	(39,611)	(21,589)
Noncontrolling interest	3,798	4,225
Total stockholders’ deficit	(35,813)	(17,364)	$ (56,061)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	142,215	102,347
SAExploration Holdings, Inc.
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	13	28
Accounts receivable, net	145	144
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	967	63
Total current assets	1,125	235
Investment in subsidiaries	(95,097)	(79,848)
Intercompany receivables	179,870	183,675
Total assets	85,898	104,062
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,210	289
Accrued liabilities	285	906
Income and other taxes payable	63	210
Current portion of long-term debt	74,427	6,953
Total current liabilities	78,985	8,358
Long-term debt		70,646
Other long-term liabilities	300	300
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	240,068	232,661
Accumulated deficit	(231,223)	(206,037)
Treasury stock, at cost	(2,232)	(1,866)
SAExploration stockholders’ deficit	6,613	24,758
Total stockholders’ deficit	6,613	24,758
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	85,898	104,062
The Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,565	5,285
Accounts receivable, net	21,823	20,487
Deferred costs on contracts	5,107	3,520
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,458	2,395
Total current assets	31,953	31,687
Property and equipment, net	36,058	32,889
Multiclient seismic data library, net	2,719	4,733
Operating lease right-of-use assets	3,490
Investment in subsidiaries	40,366	41,986
Intangible assets, net	3,298	3,541
Tax credits receivable, net	12,104	13,198
Deferred income taxes		2,023
Other assets	239	239
Total assets	130,227	130,296
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	9,002	7,205
Accrued liabilities	4,314	8,484
Income and other taxes payable	2,321	2,739
Operating lease liabilities	2,031
Current portion of long-term debt	37,974	884
Deferred revenue	6,890	4,357
Total current liabilities	62,532	23,669
Intercompany payables	116,333	135,691
Long-term debt	7,145	12,559
Other long-term liabilities	1,474
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	46,973	46,974
Accumulated deficit	(103,930)	(88,681)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(4,098)	(4,141)
SAExploration stockholders’ deficit	(61,055)	(45,848)
Noncontrolling interest	3,798	4,225
Total stockholders’ deficit	(57,257)	(41,623)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	130,227	130,296
Other Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,863	2,266
Restricted cash	74	271
Accounts receivable, net	29,614	5,832
Deferred costs on contracts	9,859	226
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,899	385
Total current assets	44,309	8,980
Property and equipment, net	1,231	2,445
Operating lease right-of-use assets	2,931
Investment in subsidiaries	7,499	7,499
Goodwill	1,766	1,687
Intangible assets, net	453	525
Deferred income taxes		137
Other assets	539	28
Total assets	58,728	21,301
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	17,754	2,609
Accrued liabilities	1,435	1,108
Income and other taxes payable	3,518	382
Operating lease liabilities	545
Deferred revenue	1,834
Total current liabilities	25,086	4,099
Intercompany payables	63,537	47,985
Other long-term liabilities	2,506	80
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Common stock	168	168
Additional paid-in capital	19,038	18,996
Accumulated deficit	(52,793)	(51,133)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	1,186	1,106
SAExploration stockholders’ deficit	(32,401)	(30,863)
Total stockholders’ deficit	(32,401)	(30,863)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	58,728	21,301
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	47,232	30,363
Intercompany receivables	(179,870)	(183,675)
Total assets	(132,638)	(153,312)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payables	(179,870)	(183,676)
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Common stock	(168)	(168)
Additional paid-in capital	(66,011)	(65,970)
Accumulated deficit	113,411	96,502
SAExploration stockholders’ deficit	47,232	30,364
Total stockholders’ deficit	47,232	30,364
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$ (132,638)	$ (153,312)